From Andrew and Stephanie

Hola Eugenio

We just wanted to say thank you very much for the trip to Otavalo last weekend which was really excellent. We had a great time and really enjoyed the market and the walks!

Apologies that we couldn´t make it into the school to say goodbye on Monday morning, but we had to get up early for the flight to the jungle (Cuyabeno) and we have only just got back.

We will try to pop in tomorrow but not sure that you will be there and we are going to the Galapagos on Sunday for 8 days. Otherwise, we can try again possibly the following week if we are still in Quito.

If we don´t make it, thankyou so much for your help and the Spanish lessons. The lessons were excellent and the family was very friendly (we are seeing them again tomorrow!). Hopefully we will be back in Quito again to take more lessons!

Best Wishes

Andrew and Stephanie

Llapnigachos and horses rides

Its been a great week here at Insituto Superior de Español, where we have had some great cultural events and activities organized for us.

First was the weekly cultural cooking evening, when the students and the Spanish teachers hang out to make one of Ecuador's favourite fayres. This week we made the bizarely named Llapingachos (sounds like a small dog barking!) which are in fact a fine mix of local ingredients to make potatoe cakes; Andean potatoes are cooked and mashed and mixed with achote, a plant dye used in food and then is molded around local queso de mesa, a simple but tasty cheese found all over Ecuador. Fry them up for a tasty tasy accompaniment for any dish.

Then we headed out at the week-end for horse back riding which took us through some beautiful secenery and a great chill out at a country hostal. For me the great thing about these events is to pratice my Spanish with the teachers and locals in an informal environment, with lots of stimulation from the new world we found ourselves in here in Quito Ecuador.

Pete, Ecuador 2009

Innovation in Ecuador

The Instituto Superior de Español has been an innovator in the world of Spanish classes here in Ecuador; we were the first Spanish school to offer a travelling Spanish course for our students, allowing them to combine tourism in some of Ecuador’s finest spots (from the jungle to Baños to the Nariz del Diablo) with first class Spanish lessons held in an array of comfortable hotels, restaurants and open air beauty spots!

We are also the primary school offering Spanish courses on the Galapagos Islands, from the classroom to the stunning beaches and plentiful wildlife in just a few steps! And we mustn’t forget that the Instituto Superior de Español is one of the oldest Spanish schools in Quito, and has developed and maintained a reputation for excellence in the field of teaching the Spanish Language to foreigners.

We look forward to being able to provide you with the Spanish course you are looking for.

Thanks for reading.

ISE

We are blogging!

Hola! Welcome to the new Instituto Superior de Espanol blog page!

We thought we’d use this first blog post to introduce ourselves, because if you’ve happened across our page from a country very different (and very far!) from Ecuador, you might have some questions about us!….

We are a Spanish language school based in Quito, Ecuador. Started by Eugenio Cordova (who has degrees in both Education and Literature from University and speaks Spanish, English and even some German) over 10 years ago, ISE is one of the most respected, experienced, professional, reliable and effective Spanish language schools in Ecuador. Eugenio is more than our Director … he is an expert in all things Ecuadorian. Our students always say that if you ever need anything – from help with visa arrangements, travel plans, housing help, activity suggestions, travel discounts… and Spanish practice! -- while you are here, he knows exactly what to do, who to talk to and how to get it done! He is the first person you’ll see when you arrive at the airport, and will make sure that you are comfortable, safe and ready to experience the best of Ecuador…. all the while learning Spanish!! (For more specifics on our programs, please check out the information on our website.)

As for the rest of ISE…

We have the best teachers in Ecuador! (and probably in all of South America! J). They all hold university degrees and have years of experience both with teaching and traveling. At the end of their time with our teachers, all of our students say that their teachers are more like their friends… and we always find good-byes hard!

And in the ISE office we have Yadrina and me (Jennifer). We both work to market the school and to help students with whatever they need! Yadrina is from Ecuador and has a degree in tourism… and even lived for 3 years in Spain! I am from the US… have lived in just about every state there, and have my degrees in business. I’ve been in Quito for about 6 months so far, and I like it so much I don’t plan on leaving any time soon!

So, whatever you need… whatever questions you might have… whatever suggestions you require… anything! We are here to help you.

And watch for new blog posts! We’ll be updating you with stories and photos of our weekend excursions, our weekly activities, stories about our students, our staff, goings-on in Quito.. everything! Life is never dull here in Quito and in Ecuador. We’re excited to show you what you could experience here with us!